Glyzelle Palomar, a former street child and one of four young people who spoke during his encounter with Filipino youth, told the pope that many children abandoned by their parents fall victim to drugs and prostitution. "Why is god allowing something like this to happen, even to innocent children? And why are there so few who are helping us" the girl said, breaking down in tears, unable to finish reading what she had prepared to say to the pope.

"Only when we are able to cry are we able to come close to responding to your question," Francis said. "There are some realities that you can only see through eyes that are cleansed by tears."

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Anyone there notice that Frankie didn't answer the question? Of course not; that would be gauche.

Pretty words, shaped in metaphors, aren't going to change those kids' situation. It'd be nice if Frankie could acknowledge that, maybe stir his sheep to action. I can't help but notice that he didn't do that either, or at least it wasn't reported here. Then, too, words seem to be the primary export of the Vatican, which gives me to wonder:

Another honest response by Frankie the Gaucho would be something along the lines of, "I got priests on 6 continents banging little kids like a screen door in a hurricane. And if we get caught, we just shovel them off on new and unsuspecting victims. By the way you little shit, didn't you get the message? Freedom of speech is one thing, but criticizing the church is something which is off limits. Go ahead. Keep it up. Just remember Charlie Hebdo."